The Bullard Center Hosts CBO Training

On August 24th, the Bullard Center for Environmental and Climate Justice conducted training at Texas Southern University in the Barbara Jordan-Mickey Leland School of Public Affairs for leaders of Community-Based Organizations (CBOs). The event brought together leaders from Houston’s environmental justice communities that are working to address issues such as illegal dumping, air pollution, and disaster impacts and recovery challenges. 

Participants were introduced to the HBCU Climate and Environmental Justice Screening Tool (HCEJST), developed in partnership with HBCU GIS faculty and data experts. This tool incorporates race and environmental factors to better identify communities eligible for Justice40 benefits.  The Justice40 Initiative, led by President Biden, aims to direct 40 percent of Federal climate and clean energy investments to disadvantaged communities. Dr. Robert D. Bullard, who serves on the White House Environmental Justice Advisory Council (WHEJAC), oversees the Bullard Center’s Justice40 Project, which provides technical support to organizations serving these communities. The project is funded by the Bezos Earth Fund.

Naomi Yoder, the Bullard Center’s GIS Data Manager, presented a summary of carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) for community members and Bullard Center team members. The discussion covered explanations of what CCS is, why it's being promoted in and pushed into BIPOC communities, the potential impacts to communities including the further entrenchment of injustice, and a brief explanation of "Community Benefit Plans."

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